Right now it’s an arms race and if you’re a VC, then you’re an arms merchant. Find the innovative company, offer something different. Give either Yahoo or Microsoft an edge and watch the phone and cash register ring. You see, the market is clamoring for more than “me too, me also.” They want “me different.”
To be more than Me Too gets into the USP (Unique Selling Proposition). Unfortunately very few technology companies really get the idea of the USP. Skype did when it was independent. They were radicals. To me, Yahoo is acting more like Microsoft every day by snapping up companies (or people) when they are young and fairly priced and both are looking to find their “me different” edge.
But since they all suck at telling that story it’s no surprise that pal Jeff “my color is Purple” Pulver came to the conclusion that he did.
Today in his blog Jeff Pulver writes about the need for Purple Minutes being needed in the new Yahoo Messenger. What’s really needed is someone at Yahoo waking up today and offering him a briefing so Jeff’s fully aware of all the details. Guys, you can’t brief a few and not the rest, especially when your embargoes get shattered by the likes of Newsweek and PC Magazine.
Jeff wrote his piece this morning based on what’s been made public as I think we’re still under some sort of embargo (has anyone seen a press release), leaving us to only hint around at what the final offering will be, even though some of us have seen it.
So while the traditional press coverage has focused on price (albeit that’s one of Yahoo’s messaging planks) the real story in my mind is how they are going about integrating it with other properties and platforms they have, beyond just IM.
Take Fantasy Sports as one. Forget about doing the draft by text chat. Now hold them by voice and make it so all the players in the league are able to see one another (or whose on line) when the games are being played. Can you say, “whaz’ up?” and then have the leagues sponsored by that St. Louis based beer company?
Remember, Yahoo is all about ad supported content so why shouldn’t their Purple Features have them too.
As for being “me too.” I’m with Jeff on that one overall and have been on that kick since I coined the saying for a presentation back in September. “Me Too, Me Also, Me Different” is all about being Purple. Companies need think in other ways and message differently to be “Me Different to be Purple..which by the way, was the color of the shirt I wore at the last VON Blogger panel.